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- October 17, 202614°
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Spain refuses to raise defense spending to 5% ahead of NATO's Ankara Summit
Spain will reject demands to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP at NATO's Ankara summit. Instead, the country proposes an alternative model that strengthens security while reforming the welfare state and public finances.
The Spanish government is preparing to reject demands to raise defense spending to 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at NATO's summit in Ankara.
At the summit, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will once again reject the demands of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump.
Sources from the Spanish Prime Minister's Office state that the country proposes developing a model that enhances security while strengthening the welfare state and reforming public finances, rather than raising defense spending to 5%.
Spain has tripled its defense investments since 2018, reaching 2% of GDP, a ratio that aligns with NATO's capability targets.
Among the 32 NATO members, the country ranks seventh in capability level, third in the number of troops deployed to peacekeeping missions, and first in military contributions to the alliance's eastern flank.
Spain, which has provided a total of 3.795 billion euros in support to Ukraine, has trained more than 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers on its territory. By June 2026, it will become the country with the largest number of troops deployed outside its borders on the alliance's eastern flank.
Spain is also one of the few allies carrying out strategic command roles, such as the maritime component of the NATO Response Force and the multinational brigade in Slovakia.
Sources from the Prime Minister's Office emphasized that there is a strong belief that many countries committed to the 5% defense spending target will not be able to achieve it.
Pointing out that NATO documents clearly show Spain is a significant ally, contrary to the statements of Rutte and Trump, the sources said Sanchez will go to the Ankara summit 'having done his duty, with his head held high and a clear conscience'.
Spain views Russia as a major threat in the short, medium and long term, and champions a 'Europe and a European army' project that is less dependent on the US, invests more in itself, and bolsters its defense.
Turkey is hosting a NATO summit for the second time in its history, 22 years after the 2004 Istanbul Summit. The 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara is of great importance in light of the challenges facing the alliance and developments in the global security architecture.
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